cd-rw

Forum: HD Install
Topic: cd-rw
started by: Envel

Posted by Envel on Nov. 23 2004,00:32

is there some way we could install dsl to a cd-rw instead of a hard drive?

is so, would the cd still boot in all computers?

Posted by Happy on Nov. 24 2004,02:16

DSL linux is apparently a live cd (I havn't tried it)
so it should work by just burning the iso image to the cdrw and throwing it in the drive.
it'l create a ramfs structure and won't mount any of the hard drives if it behaves like Knoppix, which I'm pretty sure it does judging by the boot up sequence I've seen

Posted by green on Nov. 24 2004,04:34

DSL is a live CD. Which means: do what Happy said. It works! Search the forums if/when you have any questions.

Posted by ico2 on Nov. 24 2004,16:51

happy, envel, welcome to the forums

Posted by RandomMan on Dec. 02 2004,22:15

I think he means like using the R/W function of the CD-RW to actuvely store information on the CD, which I do beleive is impossible.

Posted by ico2 on Dec. 03 2004,13:09

i do not think that could work, you could probably be able to copy an install but x fails in an hdinstall if it cannot write to the root partition.
in years to come linux may be able to read and write to a cdrw in the same way as an hdd, it is probably posiible although the life of the cd might not be as long.

Posted by Joat_Mone on Dec. 09 2004,03:17

I have worked on CD-Writer support and I know that the CD-RW disks are made with two different materials. When you write to them it melds the materials together making it darker and putting the information on the disk. When you erase them it uses a different intensity laser to seperate the materials. Eventually after time the materials will quit combining causing the CD-RW to fail. It all depends on the brand and quality, but the average write/erase life span is around 40,000 times.
In a nutshell that's CD-RW techonology. The result is if you want to use them as hard drives you will be out of luck until the techonology gets better

Posted by RoGuE_StreaK on Dec. 09 2004,05:01

In short, DSL on CD-RW works the same as DSL on CD-R (I use 80mm mini-CD-RW for testing), BUT a lot of older drives CAN'T READ CD-RW. If the drive can read a CD-RW, and it will boot off a CD-R, then yes, it will boot off a CD-RW. But just be aware that many OLD drives won't read CD-RW - my P233 laptop, for instance, can't read them (and I've tried under both linux and windows).

So I create a custom MyDSL disc image, test it on my newer systems using a CD-RW, which I can erase and re-write if something's not quite right yet, then, once I have a "good" version with everything set up how I want it, I can burn it to a mini-CD-R, without wasting one.
ie. use CD-RW for testing, then when it's right, burn a "permanent" copy

Posted by Envel on Dec. 09 2004,23:47

Quote (Guest @ Dec. 02 2004,17:15)

I think he means like using the R/W function of the CD-RW to actuvely store information on the CD, which I do beleive is impossible.

this was what i was lookin for.

essentially i wanted to know if i could install my own programs and such from one computer, then take the cd over to another computer and have it still boot.
this would allow me to create my own customized livecd with the apps that i want.

guess i will have to find another solution.

Posted by DonttPanic on Dec. 10 2004,02:00

If all you want to do is add apps, you can remaster the iso very simply. You can even do this in windoze if you please. That is how I make my custom cd's (I can add Gaim, XMMS, GIMP, and OpenOffice, as a few examples). In case you want to follow my method, I use WinISO to customize the iso, but there is other software available.
There are ways to get even higher levels of customization.
Here's a < HowTo on remastering. >

edit:
Check out the < repository > for the entire list of programs that can be added directly to the cd.

Posted by ico2 on Dec. 10 2004,14:23

that should not be a problem if you are only using it for everyday use, if using for swap things could get nasty.
it would be great to have cdrw as a new fstype so they can be written dynamicly, does not seem to be a technology problem, seems to be a driver problem, in time i guess someone will write something to do this (maybe in the next linux kernel)

Posted by Envel on Dec. 11 2004,00:59

guess that will have to do.

Posted by SaidinUnleashed on Dec. 11 2004,01:24

Ico, actually it is a technology problem. cdrw can't stand up to the wear and tear expected of a true filesystem. If you want a truely portable tiny, full filesystem, grab a Compact Flash type 2 card and an adapter. CF2 cards are 4200 rpm hard disks, they last REALLY well.

Haven't tried booting DSL off of one myself, but it should work.

-J.P.

Posted by cbagger01 on Dec. 11 2004,02:55

You could use a CD-RW for this purpose.

However, a BOOTABLE CD-RW that does this is out of the question.

You would need to carry 2 disks.

Disk #1: DSL boot CD (boot in "toram" mode)
Disk #2: CD-RW for data storage

See this project for more details:

< http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/blfs....ls.html >

Posted by Envel on Dec. 11 2004,07:00

thanks, the link helps. but i think i should first learn to make my own ISOs and stuff.

how about a zip drive? is a compact flash type 2 the only availiable thing?

Posted by ico2 on Dec. 12 2004,16:34

i guess, would be cool for such things to be possible even if not practical or long lasting.

Posted by ke4nt1 on Dec. 12 2004,21:16

Lately, I have been burning custom bootable DSL - DVD-RW's .
Seems to boot just like a CD does, and gives me lots of room for
the extensions, my personal files, larger games, mp3's , mpg's, etc..

Upgrading is easy, and the mkmydsl creates a nice .iso to burn from easily.

DSL's Latest Version = 50MB

The repository = 900+MB

Additional extensions = 200+MB
( Myfonts.dsl , Mythemes.dsl , Myprinter.dsl , Mywine.dsl )

Games ( most are mountable .uci files ) = 1.2GB
( additional files for Visual Gameboy, snes, etc.. )

MP3's and MPG's = 1GB

Whenever another version of DSL is released,
I replace the DSL in my "master", and run mkmydsl again.
Then erase and reburn the DVD.

I have also done this with DVD-R's , cause my laptop doesn't like RW's.

73
ke4nt